Appeal from the Ministry of Labour of the National Unity Government of Myanmar to the Thai Government

Appeal from the Ministry of Labour of the National Unity Government of Myanmar to the Thai Government

1. Prior to the military junta’s coup in Myanmar, there were over 1.2 million registered Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand holding passport, CI and other official documents, approximately 800,000 MOU workers, totaling over 2 million legal workers, alongside over 1.5 million undocumented Myanmar migrant workers. These workers were predominantly employed in industries with a high demand for manual laborers. Following the coup, the military regime has escalated human rights violations against the people of Myanmar, including unlawful suppression, torture, arbitrary detention, and mass killings. Additionally, the junta has imposed oppressive conscription law, forcing individuals into military service. The domestic economy of Myanmar has deteriorated, prices of goods have skyrocketed, and the population has suffered from natural and man-made disasters, including airstrikes and artillery shelling. As a result, many have fled to neighboring countries, with the majority seeking refuge in Thailand, which shares longer border with Myanmar.

2. In this regard, the National Unity Government’s Ministry of Labour extends its gratitude to the Thai government for its cooperation in implementing the issuance of the Non-Thai Identification Card (Pink Card) program for undocumented Myanmar migrant workers, as per our requests. Additionally, we deeply appreciate the arrangements made to allow workers holding official documents such as passport or CI, whose visas and work permits are nearing expiration, to renew their status within Thailand without the need to return to Myanmar.

3. However, it has been observed that the current process includes the following issues, which may cause significant difficulties for Myanmar workers, deviating from previously implemented methods:

(a) Requiring workers’ personal information to be shared with and verified by the military junta in Myanmar.

(b) Workers applying for visa or work permit extensions are not only required to pay the designated fees but must also provide evidence of tax payments to the junta. Additionally, they are mandated to remit funds to their families in Myanmar through military-designated banks and financial service providers, using exchange rates dictated by the Central Bank of Myanmar under junta control.

(c) The estimated costs for the process are projected to be double or even triple the previous expenses, placing an additional financial burden on the workers.

4. The inclusion of the above-mentioned measures in the extension process further exacerbates the hardships faced by Myanmar migrant workers due to the junta’s various suppressions, compelling many into undocumented status. Simultaneously, it indirectly facilitates the military junta in obtaining foreign currency, which is covertly used to finance the bombing and killing of Myanmar civilians.

5. Therefore, we urge the Thai government not to support or enable the oppressive actions of the military junta—a group soon to face accountability from international bodies such as the ICC and ILO due to the violations of basic labour rights and human rights, violence, and genocide in Myanmar. Instead, we request that Thailand ensure that Myanmar migrant workers, who contribute significantly to Thailand’s socio-economic development, are not subjected to increased hardships. We appeal for the process to be simplified and for the extension of visas and work permits to follow the previous procedures and cost structures, as Thailand has done in the past.

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